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crystal | delivery | in-person
crystal | delivery | in-person
[Given that they had so recently taken a trip to Theasthai for his own birthday, Ignis had suggested that their celebration of this particular day be something just a touch simpler. Of course, neither of them has ever needed fancy restaurants or theater tickets to celebrate an occasion, but tonight presents them with the rare opportunity to have the house largely to themselves.
As such, Ignis has opted to make use of the kitchen, drafting Steven into assisting him in making dinner for the both of them. Though the meal is nearing completion, they have little to do but wait until its finished, and so he offers his partner a warm smile of approval as he covers the pan on the stove and leaves it to simmer.]
Who knew when we first met that you would grow into such an excellent sous chef?
As such, Ignis has opted to make use of the kitchen, drafting Steven into assisting him in making dinner for the both of them. Though the meal is nearing completion, they have little to do but wait until its finished, and so he offers his partner a warm smile of approval as he covers the pan on the stove and leaves it to simmer.]
Who knew when we first met that you would grow into such an excellent sous chef?
[ a day spent in each other's company is more than enough to satisfy Steven - anything else is icing on the cake, so to say. Theasthai had been both intimate and productive, and while it certainly won't be their last time there, there's something to be said about a quiet evening at home together. most of the house's residents with significant others are out with evening plans and those without any have relocated elsewhere, leaving them more or less alone. it's not required, but certainly appreciated.
there was a time where Steven would have struggled to keep up in dinner prep, but he's learned to hold his own quite well. their efforts have made the kitchen smell divine, and it's bound to linger as the process goes on. he's cleaning his hands on a tea towel as Ignis speaks up, prompting a wry smile. ]
I certainly didn't. I'm not proud to admit that I could scarcely boil water before we started getting closer...
[ privileged upbringing aside, his badge-collecting journey around Hoenn had largely been fueled by canned food, energy bars and pre-made pokemon center bentos. it's shameful. ]
there was a time where Steven would have struggled to keep up in dinner prep, but he's learned to hold his own quite well. their efforts have made the kitchen smell divine, and it's bound to linger as the process goes on. he's cleaning his hands on a tea towel as Ignis speaks up, prompting a wry smile. ]
I certainly didn't. I'm not proud to admit that I could scarcely boil water before we started getting closer...
[ privileged upbringing aside, his badge-collecting journey around Hoenn had largely been fueled by canned food, energy bars and pre-made pokemon center bentos. it's shameful. ]
Edited 2019-02-15 04:00 (UTC)
[Ignis gives a soft tut in response, because he certainly remembers just how out of place Steven had seemed in the kitchen in the early months of your friendship.]
You know, I once thought to ask if your kitchen was merely for show.
[His smile pulls teasingly to one side, and he reaches out to lay his hand on his partner's shoulder.]
Now, you must be one of the most multi-talented trainers in all of Hoenn.
You know, I once thought to ask if your kitchen was merely for show.
[His smile pulls teasingly to one side, and he reaches out to lay his hand on his partner's shoulder.]
Now, you must be one of the most multi-talented trainers in all of Hoenn.
For my ego's sake, I'm glad you didn't.
[ as much as he dislikes being teased, he has enough self-awareness to know that he deserves it this time. he crosses his arm to put his hand on top of the one Ignis has placed, reaffirming their contact. ]
All thanks to you. [ his own smile grows as well. ] I'll have to reformat my resume.
[ as much as he dislikes being teased, he has enough self-awareness to know that he deserves it this time. he crosses his arm to put his hand on top of the one Ignis has placed, reaffirming their contact. ]
All thanks to you. [ his own smile grows as well. ] I'll have to reformat my resume.
Mm, I thought you might have been too delicate a soul for such criticism.
[He's grinning now, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to poke fun at him in a way he hasn't been able to in years. It feels easy, natural; their teasing is affectionate and companionable, and Ignis slips his other arm around his waist to tug him closer, pressing a chaste kiss against his forehead.]
Looking to change careers, are you?
[He's grinning now, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to poke fun at him in a way he hasn't been able to in years. It feels easy, natural; their teasing is affectionate and companionable, and Ignis slips his other arm around his waist to tug him closer, pressing a chaste kiss against his forehead.]
Looking to change careers, are you?
[hey steven, you remember those kyogre nightmares you had in the past? HERE THEY COME BACK, only they're not yours! archie's own dream has started from a bad end, with the sootopolis wall having been busted down by primal kyogre. it's swimming past glowing markings most striking-- the entire area is filled with water, though being that it's a dream, there's no sensation of drowning. let's be thankful about that.
pieces of debris float past in the murky water. it's a pretty awful sight. then... suddenly the water recedes. kyogre is left comically flopping on the new land like a magikarp. what on pokéarth just happened?!]
pieces of debris float past in the murky water. it's a pretty awful sight. then... suddenly the water recedes. kyogre is left comically flopping on the new land like a magikarp. what on pokéarth just happened?!]
[ he knows them well, and still gets them every once and awhile - even if he's come to terms with what happened in Sootopolis, the fact of the matter is that Kyogre is scary as hell. it's jarring to see a gaping hole in the city's crater, but even more so to see the beast's glowing markings while he's underwater and somehow... breathing?
and then the surroundings change, and the sea god is left flopping around. he has absolutely no idea what just happened - really, all he can do is look at Kyogre and around it, utterly puzzled. ]
and then the surroundings change, and the sea god is left flopping around. he has absolutely no idea what just happened - really, all he can do is look at Kyogre and around it, utterly puzzled. ]
[it gets weirder.
the hoenn rangers show up. only... they're all blue, because of course. the dream kind of fizzles out as one of the hoenn rangers picks up kyogre like it's just a magikarp and then... the dream fizzles out as archie wakes up and steven gets a very long mental groan.]
How are these getting worse?!
the hoenn rangers show up. only... they're all blue, because of course. the dream kind of fizzles out as one of the hoenn rangers picks up kyogre like it's just a magikarp and then... the dream fizzles out as archie wakes up and steven gets a very long mental groan.]
How are these getting worse?!
[The point of view isn't a particularly strange one, to the point Steven would be forgiven for not noticing the dream was strangely out of place- a Pokémon Center, drifting from the typical Nurse Joy at the counter over to the PC. The only details that might give the Ghost up right away are a poster in the corner advertising cruise services from Vermillion Port, and some travel brochures plastered with the seaside town's coastline.]
[That and the height from which he's viewing the PC, as it turns on. He's looking up at the screen as it boots up into a system labeled 'Bill's PC', poking at the screen with tiny hands, purple sweatbands on each wrist. It's then that he draws two of the balls from his hip, and frowns at them both.]
[One is a Pidgeotto. The other is a Raticate. After a moment of indecision, Raticate is placed onto the teleporter pad. Once a voice rings into his mind, it becomes clear whose memory he's seeing.] Three losses in a row ... tch.
I only need powerful and loyal Pokémon. If it can’t cut it, then...
... Hey, Raticate. From now on, you have an important job, okay? Stay at home and keep gramps company while I’m away.
[Blue frowns to himself as an unpleasant feeling bubbles up in him again. Whatever. It's a trainer's job to pick the best for their team, right? He reaches for the Deposit button with a final breath.] I’m counting on you.
[The unpleasant emotion grows stronger as the memory bubbles away into darkness, but this time, that feeling is directed back onto himself.]
[That and the height from which he's viewing the PC, as it turns on. He's looking up at the screen as it boots up into a system labeled 'Bill's PC', poking at the screen with tiny hands, purple sweatbands on each wrist. It's then that he draws two of the balls from his hip, and frowns at them both.]
[One is a Pidgeotto. The other is a Raticate. After a moment of indecision, Raticate is placed onto the teleporter pad. Once a voice rings into his mind, it becomes clear whose memory he's seeing.] Three losses in a row ... tch.
I only need powerful and loyal Pokémon. If it can’t cut it, then...
... Hey, Raticate. From now on, you have an important job, okay? Stay at home and keep gramps company while I’m away.
[Blue frowns to himself as an unpleasant feeling bubbles up in him again. Whatever. It's a trainer's job to pick the best for their team, right? He reaches for the Deposit button with a final breath.] I’m counting on you.
[The unpleasant emotion grows stronger as the memory bubbles away into darkness, but this time, that feeling is directed back onto himself.]
Edited (saw typosss sry) 2019-02-27 04:01 (UTC)
[ any Trainer would be familiar with the welcoming atmosphere of a Pokemon Center, though this one isn't in the Hoenn style. he watches from afar as he takes in his surroundings and eventually hears that voice - a familiar one, though not deeply so. the thought process troubles him - power and loyalty are certainly important traits, but not the only ones that should be treasured.
he doesn't speak until the memory fades away, leaving darkness around them. ]
Is that how you still think?
[ there's no judgement in his tone; only curiousity. ]
he doesn't speak until the memory fades away, leaving darkness around them. ]
Is that how you still think?
[ there's no judgement in his tone; only curiousity. ]
[The first sensation after Steven's voice rings out is like ice, Blue's consciousness freezing up as he grapples with the logic of that voice- who owns it, where it's coming from... In this dreaming state, logic doesn't have to make sense, but there's a strange sense of lucidity to that particular voice that can't simply be shrugged off like the rest of a dream.]
Why are you here!?
[Guilt and shame cascade in a sickening torrent, aided by their malfunctioning crystals, but they're not quite the same single emotion that was bubbling up from the dream itself. Something else almost manages to form in the dream, called forth by association with the rush of emotions- the silhouette of a familiar older man, before Blue forces it down.] --What business is it of yours!? Get out!
Why are you here!?
[Guilt and shame cascade in a sickening torrent, aided by their malfunctioning crystals, but they're not quite the same single emotion that was bubbling up from the dream itself. Something else almost manages to form in the dream, called forth by association with the rush of emotions- the silhouette of a familiar older man, before Blue forces it down.] --What business is it of yours!? Get out!
Evidently, your subconscious invited me.
[ he doesn't particularly want to be here, but this isn't the first time this has happened to him. he's been a guest in a handful of people's dreams this week, but Blue's is the first one he's felt enough interest to comment on. ]
I would like nothing more. Unfortunately, that would necessitate you waking up. [ so that's on you, lad. ] You don't have to answer my question - I was only curious.
[ he can draw his own conclusions from his reaction and what he already knows about Blue, but won't share them outwardly. he was just wondering if he'd be proven right or wrong. ]
[ he doesn't particularly want to be here, but this isn't the first time this has happened to him. he's been a guest in a handful of people's dreams this week, but Blue's is the first one he's felt enough interest to comment on. ]
I would like nothing more. Unfortunately, that would necessitate you waking up. [ so that's on you, lad. ] You don't have to answer my question - I was only curious.
[ he can draw his own conclusions from his reaction and what he already knows about Blue, but won't share them outwardly. he was just wondering if he'd be proven right or wrong. ]
[Even though this is still in a dream, Steven's calm and measured replies help to make it more lucid, like they're conversing awake, which allows Blue to focus enough within the dream to reply in kind. There's another flash of shame, except this one is closer to embarrassment, at perhaps the idea that he'd somehow subconsciously invited Steven in. This isn't even the first time this week that it's happened (which helps to keep him from questioning it as it happens).... But the first one somehow managed to be more pleasant than this, despite an even worse set of emotions fueling it.]
[There's certainly a deep mistrust in here too, but it's not exactly focused on Steven himself; it's more general. He doesn't know how this keeps happening.]
[Within the dream, Blue's glower remains on Steven- a few paces between them in the inky void. Blue is still holding Pidgeotto's ball in one hand, except the logic of the dream has fixed things to be more up to date, no longer the boy that hovered indecisively in front of the PC but the teenager that Steven met, the ball containing the older Pidgeot.]
Tell me why you want to know. [Blue retorts, after all the anger and shame and grandstanding evens out a little] Since you'll just assume whatever you want anyway. [Like everyone does, he doesn't add.]
[There's certainly a deep mistrust in here too, but it's not exactly focused on Steven himself; it's more general. He doesn't know how this keeps happening.]
[Within the dream, Blue's glower remains on Steven- a few paces between them in the inky void. Blue is still holding Pidgeotto's ball in one hand, except the logic of the dream has fixed things to be more up to date, no longer the boy that hovered indecisively in front of the PC but the teenager that Steven met, the ball containing the older Pidgeot.]
Tell me why you want to know. [Blue retorts, after all the anger and shame and grandstanding evens out a little] Since you'll just assume whatever you want anyway. [Like everyone does, he doesn't add.]
[ the fuck does that first part mean
after a pause, he elects to ignore it. ]
I told him the truth; about why I had my reservations when you first arrived, based on what your actions led to back in Hoenn. I let him draw his own conclusions from that.
[ it’s not Steven’s responsibility to open doors for Archie to be redeemed - that falls on his shoulders. ]
after a pause, he elects to ignore it. ]
I told him the truth; about why I had my reservations when you first arrived, based on what your actions led to back in Hoenn. I let him draw his own conclusions from that.
[ it’s not Steven’s responsibility to open doors for Archie to be redeemed - that falls on his shoulders. ]
Tooooooo bad.
[Meet ass indeed. Come on, you KNOW that only pleases him more]
[Suddenly, accompanying his words, Steven receives the mental image of one of Blue's casual memories of Lance's Dragonite- chilling with Blue's Rhydon in Viridian Gym, munching snacks.]
...You're both wrong, by the way. Both of you suck. A well-rounded team's better than either one type.
So, where's the caped nerd?
[Meet ass indeed. Come on, you KNOW that only pleases him more]
[Suddenly, accompanying his words, Steven receives the mental image of one of Blue's casual memories of Lance's Dragonite- chilling with Blue's Rhydon in Viridian Gym, munching snacks.]
...You're both wrong, by the way. Both of you suck. A well-rounded team's better than either one type.
So, where's the caped nerd?
We'll agree to disagree.
[ arguing with Lance was fun; arguing with Blue just feels like it would be a headache, considering his attitude. the trust fund kid is Not Pleased With This Behaviour. ]
He isn't here anymore. People suddenly leave this world to return home as commonly as they appear - perhaps more so.
[ arguing with Lance was fun; arguing with Blue just feels like it would be a headache, considering his attitude. the trust fund kid is Not Pleased With This Behaviour. ]
He isn't here anymore. People suddenly leave this world to return home as commonly as they appear - perhaps more so.
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